Yasawa Achievement Report

July 2014
Objective: Education Enrichment

A Classroom for Nacula Kindergarten

Since GVI began work in Ratu Meli Memorial School in 2011, the kindergarten has been
without a classroom and it has been one of GVIs goals since the project began to assist
the school in establishing a suitable classroom environment for the kindergarten.
Recently, GVI has successfully worked with the school to establish a kindergarten
classroom.

Routine is invaluable to children as it provides the opportunity to repeat, practice and

improve upon an activity. Unfortunately, for the past two years, the Nacula kindergarten
was held in the village hall. By facilitating the shift to a classroom at Ratu Meli Memorial
School, GVI is able to provide a greater level of assistance to the pupils and teacher;
therefore, having more of an impact in improving the numeracy and literacy and
facilitating the creative and physical development of the 20 kindergarten students.
GVI volunteers have been assisting in the kindergarten since the project began but using
the village hall presented many difficulties. As a multi-purpose building the kindergarten
had to be set up and packed away every day and storage was scarce so volunteers could
only bring limited resources to the kindy. In addition, certain events took priority over
kindergarten, for example village meetings or funerals and in the first twenty school days
of 2014, the kindergarten was only able to open for ten days.
The education project staff discussed with the kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Lusia, how GVI
could further assist in enriching the education of the twenty children who attend Nacula
Kindergarten. It was decided that the provision of more volunteer time and an increase in
resources would enhance the students development as would a more structured routine.
At the start of 2014, The Ministry of Education assigned only 7 teachers to RMMS, which
led to a composite class and left one empty classroom.

GVI project staff and Mrs. Lusia organized meetings with community members from the
four villages on Nacula Island, the kindergarten chairman and RMMS school committee
members to discuss moving the kindergarten from the village hall to the newly empty
classroom at RMMS. At the final meeting, Nacula village elders granted permission for the
kindergarten to relocate to RMMS. After successfully securing a space designated solely for
the kindergarten , GVIs education team set to work on developing weekly kindergarten
themes such as my family, plants and transport as well as constructing a daily schedule to
include arts and crafts, singing, and tooth brushing.
In keeping with the original aims, GVI volunteers now work with the older children from
the kindergarten to prepare them for primary school, prepare resources and provide
support to the teacher.
With a daily schedule, weekly themes, resources, extra volunteer time and their own
classroom, the children have never been happier.
And neither has their teacher:
Last year was so hard, we missed so much school because everything happened there in
the village hall. Now we have school every day and the kids love it.
Now we have a weekly theme, they follow the rules, we can leave the classroom set up
for the next day.
Its really helpful having GVI volunteers to help with the five year olds, helping with
their ABCs, their numbers and English for when they go to school next year.
Miss Lusia, Nacula Kindergarten Teacher

Figure 1 - The new kindergarten space

By facilitating the move from the village hall to Ratu Meli Memorial School, GVI has helped
make a huge step forwards in improving the education standard of the kindergarten
students. Having their own classroom gives the pupils a more consistent routine and allows
more time for volunteer involvement. Focusing on the older students, GVI volunteers can
help ensure these children are prepared for class 1, which will give them a solid base for
their primary education. GVIs education team will continue providing support to Mrs.
Lusia and work towards developing the kindergarten program to promote learning by
playing.
GVI Fiji

For more information on GVIs projects in Fiji please visit www.gvi.co.uk

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details